Plants and the Reproductive System

The human reproductive system may be considered “silent” until puberty, when a trigger activates the genetic code responsible for the production and secretion of hormones responsible for the initiation and continuation of this developmental stage. The reproductive system consists of primary sex organs, the male testes and the female ovaries, collectively called the gonads. Male sexual organs include the testes (which produce sperm and sex hormones), vas deferens and urethra (which carry sperm out of the body), prostate and glands seminal vesicles (which contribute to the majority of fluid within the semen), penis (which is an organ of copulation and excretion) and scrotum (housing the testes outside the pelvic cavity which is essential for viable sperm production). Female sexual organs include the ovaries (which produce ova and sex hormones), the uterine tubes (which carry ova from the ovary to the uterus), the uterus (which represents the house and nourishes developing embryo), the vagina (which receives sperm during intercourse and which also represents the exit point for menstrual flow), the vulva (which serves as a protection) and mammary glands (which produce milk). As with any organ system failure, imbalances include a wide number of conditions, both for male and female. This chapter will focus on menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia.